WMBD-TV, channel 31, is the CBS affiliate in Peoria, Illinois. It is the first Peoria station to broadcast local color television, the last to broadcast digital television, and the only commercial television station with its studio and offices still in the city itself.

Ownership

WMBD-TV has been co-owned with WCIA (TV) in Champaign, Illinois for decades. Along with WCFN in Springfield, Illinois, they are now owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. WMBD-TV also operates WYZZ-TV.

History

WMBD-TV first signed on the air on January 1, 1958. The original owners were Charles Caley and John Fetzer of WMBD, Inc., and it was co-owned with WMBD radio (AM 1470 and 93.3 FM, now WPBG). The stations were sold to Midwest Television Inc. of Champaign, Illinois; owners of WCIA in 1960 for $1.85 million.

In 1999, WMBD-TV was split from its radio sisters when Midwest Television divested its Illinois stations, selling TV stations WMBD-TV, WCFN Springfield, and WCIA Champaign to Nexstar Broadcasting Group and the two Peoria radio stations to Peoria-owned JMP Media LLC (a subsidiary of California-based Triad Broadcasting).

Logos

Programming

In addition to sharing news items with WCIA, WMBD-TV has also carried some original WCIA programs:

• At the Hop (1950s-1960s): with John Coleman and later with Ed Mason
• Dialing for Dollars (1960s-1970s)
• Nightmare Theater (1958–1962)
• The Bruce Weber Show

Station names

• "Action News 31" (1960s-1970s)
• "31 News Alive" (1970s-1980s)
• "NewsCenter 31" (1980s-90s)
• "News 31" (early to mid-1990s)
• "WMBD News" (mid 1990s)
• "CBS 31 News" (1997 to 2003)
• "NewsChannel 31 News" (2003-present)

Slogans

• "The Best News of All" (Did use CBS' "Get Ready" campaign and montage in 1989) (1980s-1990s)
• "Your News Authority" (Did use CBS' "The Look of America is CBS" campaign and montage in the early 1990s) (1990s)
• "Specifically Designed for Busy People (Like You)" (Did use "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls for a montage in 1997) (1990s)
• "The One and Only" (Did air a montage featuring the news team with the song "You're The One That I Want" from the film Grease) (1990s)
• "Bottom Line, Better News" (Did use CBS' "Its All Here" montage in 2002 also) (2001–2003)
• "Making A Difference For You" (2003–2007)
• "Taking Action For You" (2007-Present)

Personalities

Current

Angelica Alvarez Marcus Bailey Christy Stelzer Sarah Barwacz Chuck Collins Rob Coons Megan Johnson Bob Larson Bret Lemoine

Lisa Miller Lori Obert Kurt Pegler Iris Pérez Josh Stone

Former

Karen Adams Rachel Aissen John Alois Diane Barber Orrin Benjamin Stephanie Brown Julie Broski Katie Burcham Cheryl Burton Catherine Cambra Rene Charles John Coleman Chris Curtis Caitlin Coyner Faith Daniels Jenifer Daniels Liza Danver Donna Davis Annette Eulitt Anne Ferry Nancy Flagg Dave Freeman Yvonne Greer Kate Habecker (later Kenny) Brad Harding Kristyn Hartman Don Hein Wayne Herman Bob Jamieson Jim Jensen Tom Kelly Rollie Keith Will Koch Kimberly LaBurda

Sally Larvick Carol LeBeau Mike McClellan Krystal Morris Paul Moyer Aimee Nuzzo Amy Paul Paige Perich L.P. Phillips Laura Trendle Polus Joe Rex Chuck Rogers Jane Rogers Rachel Ryan Justin Sacher Randy Salerno Martin Savidge Donna Schultze Trisha Skidmore Bob Starr Kari Stewart Howard Sudberry Dan Swaney Lisa Sylvester Darcy Thomas Steve Trainor Dorothy Tucker Jay Verner Doc Watson

Digital Television

Virtual Channel	Physical RF Channel	Video	Aspect	Programming
31.1	30.1	1080i	16:9	Main WMBD programming / CBS HD

Analog-to-digital conversion

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009 , WMBD will remain on its current pre-transition channel number, 30. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display WMBD's virtual channel as 31.

References

External links

• WMBD homepage
• Unoffical WMBD-TV 31 Fan Blog